minuet

noun

min·​u·​et ˌmin-yə-ˈwet 

1

: a slow graceful dance in ³/₄ time characterized by forward balancing, bowing, and toe pointing

2

: music for or in the rhythm of a minuet

Examples of minuet in a Sentence

The orchestra played a minuet.

Recent Examples on the Web

This was no primly patterned minuet, where dancers stood side by side, attention directed to precisely mapping elaborate steps. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024

The hornet is a threat to the honeybee and other insects, with the ability to kill entire honeybee colonies in 90 minuets. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

The President answered questions for approximately 45 minuets on a range of issues, though multiple questions were focused on the President's mental and physical capabilities. —James Powel, The Courier-Journal, 12 July 2024

The Palestinian component of this diplomatic minuet is simple: don’t say no. —Daniel C. Kurtzer, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

French menuet, from obsolete French, tiny, from Old French, from menu small, from Latin minutus

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for minuet

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset

Kids Definition

minuet

noun

min·​u·​et ˌmin-yə-ˈwet 

1

: a slow graceful dance

2

: music for or in the rhythm of a minuet